The artistic director of the D. Maria II National Theater, Tiago Rodrigues, canceled his participation in the Israel Festival, scheduled to take place in Jerusalem next month, and announced his decision to join the cultural boycott of Israel, according to a statement released by the theater, today.

“I have decided not to present my show at the Israel Festival in June because I believe it is the only way to ensure that my artwork will not serve to justify or support a government that commits deliberate human rights violations and is currently violently attacking the Palestinian people,” says the author, actor and director.

Rodrigues says that although his decision as the artistic director of a national theaterÂ “could cause discomfort in the diplomatic planeâ,Â “it was a well thought-out decision and I must, above all, obey my conscience. I have consulted with friends and colleagues whom I trust, and I have read statements by many intellectuals and artists, notably Israelis. Also I bear witness to the Israeli governmentâs terrible and violent conduct in this moment.â

In his statement, Rodrigues says that although he âvehemently opposes the Israeli governmentâs oppression of the Palestinian people”, he accepted the invitation to present the play ‘By Heart’Â at Israel Festival in Jerusalem because it was “promoted by a non-profit organization that presents itself as an artistic project that promotes a plural and peaceful society.”

Rodrigues also says that he accepted the invitation believing “that the people of a country and its political administration are not the same thing.â He says “when I play shows in the US, for example, I do theater for Americans, but I am not subscribing to the Trump administration. If I were to be associated with the Trump administration, I would be against it.”

However, the directorÂ became aware “through the official communications of the festival,” that this year’s edition “marks the 70th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel.”

âThe festivalâs celebration of Israelâs 70th anniversary was not accompanied by a single word of criticism of Israelâs conduct vis-Ă -vis the Palestinian people during the last 70 years. This notice is of great political significance and I was not informed about it when I was invited to participate in the festival. I do not accept the use of my artistic work for political reasons without my consent,â reads the statement.

In addition, “the festival prominently announces the support of various branches of the Israeli government, but remains silent about the unacceptable acts of violence ordered by the same government against the Palestinian people. This omission is deeply disturbing and I cannot accept it,” he says.

In addition to his decision to boycott Israel Festival, Rodrigues also decided to publicly “join the cultural boycott movement of Israel, with the conviction that global and collective pressure could produce results similar to the boycott of South Africa during apartheid.â

‘By Heart’, a playÂ in which Tiago Rodrigues teaches a poem to ten people of the public, without previous preparation while unraveling stories of his grandmother mixed with fiction and characters of books, was already presented in Rome (Italy), Trodheim (Norway), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Rennes and Marseille (France) and Athens (Greece).